Many people think that their elder years are "years of fading strength," in the words of poet Thomas Campbell. But they don't have to be. If you want them to, your golden years can actually be the best years of your life. Even if you don't think so, give these techniques a try and you'll be delighted with the results.
Henry Ford said, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." One of the best ways to keep your mind sharp and retain a youthful spirit is to continue growing in your mind by pursuing a course of lifelong learning.
Don't Just Survive, Thrive: 7 Ways To Make Your Golden Years Truly Special
You can pursue practical knowledge, such as learning to work on cars, do repairs around the house, or learn a new language. Or you can pursue knowledge for its own sake, studying art, ancient cultures, or poetry.
Not only will you help your memory, but you'll retain your confidence and your feeling of independence.
Travel is another great way to keep enriching your life. As we get older, there's a temptation to visit all our favorite old places to relive some of our great memories. Although this can be a good thing, you might get more benefit from going to new places and seeing new things, which can help you keep a lifelong path of learning, and help you avoid dwelling on times and people long gone.
One inventory that can make your elder years more solemn than they need to be is a full box of unfulfilled dreams. Don't spend time looking at these as a list of failures, but as a list of opportunities. No matter what your dreams may be, there's still time to pursue them.
Have an invention you've always wanted to market? A book you've written but never gotten published? A marathon or triathlon you have always wanted to do? These dreams are still there to be fulfilled. It's never too late to pursue them. Even if you don't get there, the journey can still be rewarding.
Think back over your life. Chances are, there are people who have inspired you to become a better person, and to live a better life. Now you can be that person in someone else's life. Volunteer as a teacher or join a mentoring program.
You will see great benefits from helping others. Your self-esteem and self-confidence will improve. It will also help you to see yourself through other people's eyes, which can be very helpful. Many seniors tend to downplay the achievements of their lives. When you share these achievements with others, chances are you'll realize just how much you've done with your life and how great your achievements are.
Exercise may not be a goal in itself for many people (not all of us want to run a marathon), but it offers many benefits for people in later life, including improved mental health and mood, lower risk of falls, decreased risk of heart disease, maybe even decreased cancer risk.
In other words, exercise will make your life better generally.
Many seniors look at food as just fuel for the body, without any zest. However, food is one of life's great sensual pleasures, and rediscovering food in later life can lead to an improved quality of life.
An important consideration is whether your dentures may be interfering with your ability to enjoy food, but if this isn't the problem, maybe you just need to learn some new recipes or go out for new cuisine. The fact is, like many other aspects of life, the more you keep trying new foods, the younger and happier you will feel.
Often, in our later years we find ourselves with a heart that is heavy from all the people who have loved and lost. Not just people who have died, but all the heartbreaks from all the exes: boyfriends, girlfriends, and spouses all leave their marks on us. This can make it hard to find the willingness to try again.
However, new love is always young love, and it might be worth it to try to love again. If you're not ready for love, try joining a club of like-minded people and find a new friend. Finally, even a pet can enrich your life and help you enjoy life.
As with everything, continuing to take chances means you're thriving and not just surviving.
Don't Just Survive, Thrive: 7 Ways To Make Your Golden Years Truly Special
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Dr. Matthew B. Candelaria (PhD, U of Kansas 2006) is a freelance writer who focuses primarily on health- and fitness-related topics with an emphasis on aging and wellness. He has written thousands of articles on a wide range of topics from plastic surgery to dentistry to elder care facilities.
